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Theme Of Courtier In Much Ado About Nothing

1470 Words6 Pages

During the Elizabethan era, courtiers were highly regarded in society, for being noble, virtuous, courteous, and graceful. They also immensely value their honor, a vital quality in the courtier system. If honor is absent, shame takes its place. The courtiers then transform into fools, filled with indignity. In Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare critiques this courtier system by jokingly look into the assets and flaws of the current nobles and aspiring nobles. In this play, the characters and their intentions of displaying honor and hiding shame are distinguished and expressed through their language towards others.
Many of the characters in this play truly value their honor in order to maintain their position as a courtier. Under a …show more content…

For example, after Don Pedro wonders if Beatrice is interested in him, Beatrice takes what she has said before, immediately responding, “No, my lord, unless I might have another for working-days; your grace is too costly to wear every day. But I beseech your grace, pardon me: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter” (2.1.320-323). Beatrice does not offend the prince and immediately defends herself and her previous words, which also demonstrates her fast-paced thinking and intelligence, seeming almost natural. Then, Beatrice praises the Prince, which reveals that Beatrice doesn’t want to offend the Prince, whether it is serious or not. In the courtier system, one must be loyal and respectful towards others, especially to the higher class. If one does not have traits, it could leave a negative impact and thought from the upper class on that person, which often brings along shame. Beatrice also emphasizes on how the Prince is too worthy and of too high rank to her, which shows Beatrice’s recognition of Don Pedro’s status in both society and the courtier system. Beatrice, as a courtier woman, doesn’t want to have a bad reputation in Don Pedro’s eyes, so she disguises and hides her jokes and barbaric comments, putting on that mask of

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